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In Review

05 July 2009 02:28 BST

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly: The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager

Atlantic, out now.

In a nutshell…

Imaginative, stripped-down, electronic, enthralling

What's it all about?

The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager is one of the most hotly anticipated records to emerge this year and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly has been bounded around for what seems like over a year. Preceded by the singles Call Me Ishmael and Bohemian Teenager Pt One, Chronicles delivers what was expected of it. Stripped-down acoustic balladry combined with innovative lyrics, this record is further complimented by the individualistic approach to production. Many songs literally sound like they're being performed live in your kitchen, albeit complete with a few techies twiddling with laptops and distorting the odd plectrum pluck. Get Cape finally arrives with 12 songs of thoroughly decent material, signaling a promising start for one of Atlantic records' brightest prospects.

Who's it by

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly is actually Sam Duckworth, with a bit of help from the odd session musician. The name that Duckworth chooses to perform under began to become more well known than any music he was producing. The release of the new Superman film prompted many newspapers to steal the slogan and utilize it for posters and various movie features. People began to know of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, but not what it was, or who it was.

Fortunately for Duckworth he didn't just have a catchy name, he also had some tunes. Call Me Ishmael became a popular track and when Duckworth performed it solo at Reading he attracted an array of celebrity fans. Part one of the title track was released soon after and radio stations caught on to the new phenomena. Crucially, Duckworth took acoustic songs to a new level of ferocity and power. Chronicles makes Jose Gonzalez look like David Gray with a cough and stamps repeatedly on Willy Mason's applauded effort back in 2004.

As an example…

"This is the weight of the words/I think it's time for us to part/If this is the war of the worlds." War Of The Worlds demonstrates clearly the unique character of Duckworth's song writing, its simplicity is its biggest strength and the strum of the guitar sounds more fearsome than a hundred rock bands.

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

Get Cape could well make a few shortlists. It's been launched at the wrong time to qualify for a Mercury, however, other awards can't be ruled out. Perhaps some Mojo and Q nominations.

What the others say

"If Get Cape has half the influence his hero had in mobilising us to fight injustice that superhero name will begin to look remarkably appropriate" - NME

"Get Cape does little to warrant more than a shrug" - Drowned in Sound

So is it any good?

Get Cape often gets compared to Billy Bragg and the cover of a Bragg classic on the Call Me Ishmael single shows the influence the veteran has on Duckworth's sound. Chronicles is the kind of record you expect to see played out at a small venue, only for Duckworth to call a halt to proceedings and slate the BNP for being fascist overweight pigs. It's the kind of thing Bragg is famous for and it always gets the crowd going. Both artists are keenly involved in the noble charity Love Music Hate Racism, which organises the May Day Trafalgar Square gig and is often a large presence at various London shows.

Many people complain that music and politics don't mix and Bragg is often slated in the press for being a trendy, over the hill lefty. However, Duckworth demonstrates that this can work without being overdone. Chronicles isn't a politicised record, but it’s a record written alongside strong beliefs and this comes across in the strength of the songs. I-Spy, the B-side to Call Me Ishmael, is the closest thing to a weak track on Chronicles.

War Of The Worlds, both parts of the title track and Whitewash is Brainwash are all incredibly strong songs that most artists could only drool over in their sleep. An Oak Tree and Once More With Feeling have more creativity than most bands' back catalogues and Glasshouses deserves a single release. Chronicles is an excellent debut and is one of those records that offers something different every listen. The electronic twists and random hooks that Duckworth often adds seem to work well with the gentle strum of his guitar. In addition, the production raises the bar for musical possibilities as it continually meets the outlandish ideas that Chronicles throws up.

8/10

Karl Pike